The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1906)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 49 The machines and devices shown were interesting; the arrangement of the displays, the electric signs and the many methods used to catch and hold the attention of the spectator were interesting, but to the close observer, the human factor held the greatest element of interest. "What the machines did was wonderful. Their effect upon the individuals who came to see them was much more so. I spent the seven days of the show coming in contact with hundreds of these individuals, and out of the chaos of mental impressions left behind a few stand out. Our exhibit — commercial graphophones — was a center of attraction. The idea of recording dictation upon a cylinder at any moment and as rapidly as one loves to talk, is still sufficiently novel to arrest the attention of even the most blase. Hence they all come to us. * * * * This happened about 10 o'clock of the opening night. There were just two of them — sweet young things who had some things still to learn. "Oh! see that handsome man" — referring to Mr. Bedard, of Georgia — "talking into the speaking tube," piped one. "Why, you know, Bess," answered her companion, "he's dictating letters. He talks them into the machine; they go over and wire to the girl over there, and she writes the letters." "But why don't he dictate them to the girl at once, Bess?" queried the fair one. I couldn't resist the temptation. "Because," I said, as gently as possible, "his wife won't let him." They passed on. * * ;i: * * "Might I listen to one of the machines?" Her voice was sweet and mellow as that of a full-throated robin. "With much pleasure, madam." "You know, my employer is talking of getting some of your machines, and I'd like to know just how they work." "Glad to show you." This from the genial Hopkins, who was demonstrating. A letter was dictated, and she was allowed to listen to Its reproduction. "Why, that's fine," she said. "But where does the letter come out?'' It was explained to her that it was still necessary to use a typewriting machine before the letter could be written. She breathed a sigh of relief as she moved up the aisle. Her job was safe. * * * * There were four of them, all prosperous business men. They came in and sat around a machine for a demonstration. Each dictated a letter, and when it came time to reproduce the last man's dictation, he listened to it and gravely remarked to his companions: "Boys, not another highball for me to-night. I'm drunk now. "Why. how can you tell?" queried the bunch. You can walk all right, and your talk is straight." "That's a' right," he answered; "but you listen to the 't' in that word 'mister.' It ain't there in the machine. I'm drunk, a' right." And he was. * * * * This boy was a smooth one. He came into the booth and asked if the machines would record dictation. There was a sixteen-foot sign staring him in the face which said that was what they were there for, but that made no difference. He was given a demonstration and listened with much interest. It was, he said, the first time he had seen such a thing and it interested him greatly. He was going to look into it further. Would we kindly let him have a full set of literature? As he was going out he' turned to the machine once more and said: "Oh, I would just like to see how your speed regulator operates." He was a decoy from a competitor's booth. DURAND CHATS OF BENEFITS Which Were Derived by the Display of Commercial Phonographs at the Business Show. "The recent Business Show in the Garden was an object lesson to the progressive business man in more ways than one," said Nelson C. Durand, manager of the commercial department of the National Phonograph Co. to The World after the close of the show; "but in the use of the phonograph as a necessary accessory to the ofRce was the lesson strongly emphasized. Months of correspondence and talking could not convince business men of its utility like a practical demonstration given by an operator at our booth. When they realized the fact that they had an amanuensis constantly at hand, who never grew weary and made errors, and who would work overtime without a grumble, it became an easy matter to interest them. Then, too, we were able to show the stenographer how, instead of curtailing her salary, it would tend to make her more valuable. This we did by demonstrating the extra amount of work that could be produced in a given time without the labor on her part that would be required if she had to take notes instead of transcribing direct from dictation. In showing the saving we did not advance the argument that a purchaser of one of our outfits Tvould save money on the salary, but by the added results. By doing this, we made friends with both sides. The old question of the phonograph injuring the hearing also was constantly coming up, and we were kept busy answering questions on that score. But by allowing those who advanced such theories to make a practical test with the modern ear pieces we convinced them that the phonograph would train the ear to more acute hearing than to the contrary. The show proved an ideal school for the training of our salesmen, and it was for this reason we had so many present from our out-of-town stores. One of the points developed by the show was the constantly increasing interest in time saving appliances, and employes who examined our product did not ask 'how much labor will it save,' but 'how much of my time will I save in producing a given amount of work with my present force.' Of course, there was the omnipresent curiosity seeker, the man who knew it all and every other class that you will find in every show, but I do not think any exhibit aroused greater interest than the Edison phonograph." ENTERPRISING KNOXVILLE CONCERN. The Knoxville Phonograph & Typewriter Co., of Knoxville, Tenn., have recently remodeled their establishment, and now have one of the finest stores in the South. E. J. Rogers, the proprietor, is a man of exceptional organizing ability, and travelers speak with admiration of the perfect system which prevails throughout the store. A visitor to the basement salesrooms receives a surprise. Instead of the usual blank walls he finds himself apparently gazing through windows upon moonlit gardens. The effect is produced by constructing recesses in the walls at intervals, creating a scenic background and p'.acing electric lights out of sight, but so as to shed a gentle radiance over the "landscape." An extensive jobbing business is done in Edison, Victor and Columbia goods and American records. Mr. Rogers, it is understood, has recently embarked on the flower-strewn sea of matrimony. COLUMBIA STAFF CHANGES. S. S. B. Campbell has resigned as manager of the New York office of the Columbia Phonograph Co., General, and will take a few months' vacation, going to Europe, and on his return will re-enter the company's service. J. H. Dorian, formerly of the executive offices, has been appointed manager of the New York office, and is in direct charge of all the Columbia stores in the States of New York and New Jersey. No changes have as yet been made in the Western or Chicago offices of the company, but a shift in management will be made on December 1, according to the statement given The Review by General Manager Lyle. The Highest Authorities say the 1. C. S. Language System is of Sterling Worth -Are YOU Selling it?i The leading educators and authorities everywhere who have investigated" the ICS System of teaching foreign languages have pronounced it to be the most perfect in the world. Take tlie following endorsement from the German Embassy at Washington, for instance : I have, ■with great interest, taken notice of the Lanp^uage System, through the phonograph, as taught by the Xnternational Correspondence Schools, of Scranton, Pa. The pronunciation of German and the rendering of tlie German specimen recitations, in verse and prose, which the machine delivers, are absolutely irreproachable, and the method applied to the Grammar appears to me thorough and practical. I deem the system 'well adapted to further the acquisition of the German language according to its Grammar and pronunciation. I.C.S. LANGUAGE SYSTEM PH O N O G RAPH veil worth Sc HELLERSt EI NWARTE, Imperial Councillor of Legation, Secretary of the Imperial German Embassy at Washington, D. C. This only goes to show that the language feature of the business IS well worth YOUR investigation. Another thing that proves the same fact is that dealers who have tried it have greatly increased their business thereby. We have been telling you this for some time. Probably you have meant to look it up, but have forgotten to do so. Why not sit down and write us a postal NOW International Correspondence Scliools Box 918, SCRA^TON, PA.